WP-TacomaBiz.net

Find Your Business

“The clearer the reasons, the more likely you are to achieve your goal.” Forbes

Do you intend to work full or part-time? Starting part-time is usually safer, but can the business be done in the hours you have available?
Do you want to stay with the work you know, so you’ll experience less of a learning curve and have existing contacts?
If there is no market for you in your own field or industry, is there a field that needs your skills?
Do you need a change or want to do something more enjoyable?
Don’t end up like the person who said: “I heard you could earn a good living in this business and I do, but I sit my desk all day, and I hate it. So now I’m looking for something I’ll enjoy doing.” Motivation is the key to persistence, and persistence is the key to success.

Don’t know where to start setting-up your business?

Develop a 25-word description of your business an eight-year-old can understand. Include key benefits and how what you offer differs from others
Determine how you will find prospective customers: E-mail lists (listserv’s) – Mailing lists you rent – Meetings they attend – Newsgroups and online forums – Online telephone directories – Other businesses they use – Publications they read – Radio they listen to – Trade shows and conferences – T.V. they watch
List ways you can reach people. Example: For a publication, you can purchase a classified or display ad, send news releases, pitch a story idea for an article written by you or about you, propose a column, rent a mailing list, have a joint promotion, write letters to the editor
Pick a business name that people will remember and can easily spell and pronounce
Pick five marketing methods that are suitable to your business, your budget and your personality. When you test them, measure and compare your results
and much more!!

Ten Do’s and Dont’s For Working At Home

Separate your work from your living areas – Don’t put your office in your living room
Get a separate telephone line, preferably a business line for the yellow page listing – Don’t be too cute with voicemail, unless you’re in the jingle business
Be upbeat answering the telephone. Use a mirror to make sure you’re smiling when answering the telephone – Don’t wait for the phone to ring, if you’re not working, market yourself
Set goals for everyday and work on those first, prioritize your goals – Don’t expect to work effectively with children underfoot
Value your time as you value your money – Don’t work morning, noon and night
Use color codes to make files and disks easy to find – don’t allow paperwork and office equipment to take over your home
get furniture sized for your home, usually smaller then standard – Don’t use a kitchen, dining room or bridge chair for your desk chair
Save time by using check-writing and accounting software – Don’t throw away copies of receipts, invoices and checks. Tax records must be kept for at least six years after you’ve filed a return
Dress in a way that helps you work productively, whether it’s heels or a necktie or a sweatshirt and jeans – Don’t let housework or hobbies distract you from getting your work done. Instead, schedule time for them
Have and attitude that you work from home, not at home
Don’t have personal items (like children’s toys) visible, if customers come to your home